x360ce version 2.0.2.163 , follow these steps to emulate an Xbox 360 controller for older games that use XInput. 1. Initial Setup Download and Extract : Place the x360ce.exe
file directly into the folder where your game's executable ( ) is located. Run as Administrator : Right-click x360ce.exe and select Run as administrator Create Required Files : When prompted that files are missing, click to allow the program to create xinput1_3.dll x360ce.ini Steam Community 2. Configuration & Presets Load a Preset : Click the button at the bottom. Select Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver
(or a similar relevant preset for your controller type) and click Advanced Settings tab and ensure Device Type
Ensure your controller is plugged in; the program should recognize it and show a green light in the tab for Controller 1. Button Mapping
: If the buttons are incorrect, click the drop-down next to a button (e.g., "A"), select , and press the corresponding button on your controller. 3. Compatibility Settings For certain games (like Dead Rising 2 Halo Online ), you may need specific hook settings: Options Tab : Check the boxes for xinput1_1.dll xinput1_2.dll xinput9_1_0.dll to maximize compatibility with various games. InputHook Hook Mode Compatibility : Always click before closing the application. Steam Community Troubleshooting Multiple Controllers
: If using more than one controller, repeat the mapping process in the Controller 2, 3, or 4 Connection Issues : If the controller isn't recognized, check your Windows Bluetooth & devices settings to ensure the hardware is properly connected to your PC. Xbox 360 Controller Emulator for a particular game?
X360CE (2010-2023) project is free and open source. We do it in our free time after work. Xbox 360 Controller Emulator x360ce version 2.0.2.163
x360ce version 2.0.2.163 is a specific legacy release of the Xbox 360 Controller Emulator, an open-source utility that allows non-Xbox gamepads to function as official Xbox 360 controllers in PC games. Summary of Version 2.0.2.163
Release Date: This version was originally uploaded around October 2016.
Architecture: It belongs to the older 2.x/3.x branch of the software. Unlike the modern version 4.x, which creates a virtual controller at the system level, this version works by placing specific .dll and .ini files directly into a game's installation folder. Core Functionality:
Translation: It captures DirectInput from generic USB controllers and translates it into XInput signals that games recognize.
Manual Setup: Users typically copy the x360ce.exe file into the game directory containing the main .exe, run it as an administrator, and let it generate files like xinput1_3.dll.
Bit-Depth Sensitivity: Because it uses DLL injection, users must match the emulator version to the game's architecture (32-bit or 64-bit). Safety and Reliability x360ce version 2
Malware Status: Official versions downloaded from SourceForge are scanned for malware and generally considered safe by the gaming community. However, anti-virus software may sometimes flag it as a "false positive" because it injects code (DLLs) into other applications.
Game Bans: While generally safe for single-player games, using any DLL-injection tool in online games with aggressive anti-cheat systems (like VAC or Easy Anti-Cheat) carries a risk of a ban. Availability
You can still find this specific legacy build on the x360ce SourceForge page under the files section, though the developers generally recommend the latest version (4.x) for better compatibility with modern Windows 10/11 games. Download x360ce.App-2.0.2.163.zip (x360ce) - SourceForge
x360ce version 2.0.2.163 is a legacy, library-based "Xbox 360 Controller Emulator" used for mapping older DirectInput controllers to work as XInput devices. It functions by placing .dll files in a game's executable folder and is favored for its stability in older titles, offering customization for up to 4 controllers. For more information, visit the official website for x360ce.
On Windows 10/11 with Driver Signature Enforcement enforced, x360ce v2.0.2.163 sometimes fails to request exclusive controller access. You may get “Device not connected” errors unless you run the game as Administrator and disable fullscreen optimizations.
Microsoft's shift from DirectInput to XInput (introduced with the Xbox 360 controller) standardized game controller input but also rendered thousands of older or third-party controllers incompatible with newer games. x360ce solves this by intercepting XInput API calls at the DLL level and translating them into DirectInput commands. Version 2.0.2.163 is notable for its stability, minimal configuration overhead, and widespread community documentation. Legacy game preservation: Running older racing or fighting
Some controllers have extra buttons (e.g., “Mode” or “Macro”). To disable them, under [PAD1] find lines like Button_13=-1. The -1 means unbound. Leave as-is.
No installation. Drop x360ce.exe and xinput1_3.dll into the game’s .exe folder. No registry changes, no background services. This is a major plus for retro-PC gamers using portable SSDs or multiple Windows installations.
Version 2.0.2.163 is widely considered the final "classic" stable release of the x360ce library (xinput1_3.dll). This version belongs to the older branch of the software (often referred to as the "2.x" branch) which utilized a different architecture than the modern "3.x" versions. It is historically significant for being the standard "go-to" file for PC gamers needing to emulate Xbox 360 controllers for older DirectInput devices between 2010 and 2013.
Relevance today: While x360ce has moved on to version 4.x (with a rewritten core), version 2.0.2.163 remains useful in specific scenarios:
Compatibility note: On Windows 10/11 with updated security, the game folder must be excluded from Controlled Folder Access (Windows Defender) to allow DLL injection.
joy.cpl)Microsoft introduced the XInput standard with the Xbox 360 to standardize controller inputs on Windows. However, thousands of existing game controllers used the older DirectInput standard. Many game developers began coding games strictly for XInput, meaning generic controllers (logitech, Saitek, older gamepads) would not function in games like Grand Theft Auto IV or Batman: Arkham Asylum, even if the controller was physically connected.